Norway’s status as one of the world’s most attractive cruise destinations continues with the release of record-breaking visitor figures.
05.01.2024 - 15:57 / forbes.com
Norway, along with the rest of the Nordic region, is frequently hailed as one of the happiest places to live in the world, boasting one of the highest standards of living. If you’ve ever visited the fjords and fallen in love with the natural beauty, you’ve likely wondered what it would be like to live in Norway.
A robust economy, a short working week and employment legislation that heavily favors employees, a comprehensive welfare system, and a societal focus on children are all factors that make Norway a tempting prospect for relocation.
However, the difficulty in finding a job, the high cost of living, and the work permit requirements for non-Europeans deter many people. Yet, with 15.8% of Norway’s 5.5 million population having a foreign background, relocation is certainly possible.
Before deciding on a relocation, it’s a good idea to spend a significant amount of time in Norway. What you see and experience on a vacation bears little relation to everyday life.
Before committing, why not spend a few weeks living in a small apartment in a Norwegian city? Renting one on AirBnB is a good bet to experience life in a local neighborhood, shopping for groceries, using public transit, and other aspects of everyday life in Norway.
This is particularly important if your only experience of Norway was on a fjords cruise or other organized tour. Also, rather than the summer, try visiting in the wetter months of October and November, or the colder months of January to March.
If you then decide that the Scandinavian way of life works for you, here’s how the immigration process works.
If you’re considering a move to Norway, it’s important to become familiar with the processes as soon as possible. The overall immigration process is managed by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), but the Police accept and process a lot of the paperwork needed for individual applications.
Appointments with the Police are managed online. In larger cities, you’ll find a service center for foreign workers known as an SUA, which brings together all the relevant authorities under one roof.
There are many different categories of residence permits, so it’s important to do your research before you begin the process.
Although there are many different residence permits, the overall process splits into two categories: Citizens of EU/EEA countries, and everyone else.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries have an automatic right to live and work in Norway. So if you’re a passport holder of Germany, Spain, France, and so on, all that’s required is a relatively simple registration process with the Norwegian Police.
You will need a valid reason to stay beyond six months, such as job income or joining a full-time course of study, but there are few
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